(22 Sep. 2013) Bukit Mertajam Gospel Centre

The Local Church – its People

A. THE PLACE NAME OF THE CHURCH

B. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH.

C. THE PERSONNEL IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.

D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTINGE. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING

“Brethren” or brethren?

The Local Church (Introduction)

I Cor. 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at

Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called (to be) saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,

both theirs and ours:

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,

with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

A.The Place Name of the Church.1. Biblically –

The Church at/in Corinth Cf. The Seven Churches in Asia: Cf. the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi (Phil. 1:1).

Farquhar Street Chapel?Burmah Road Gospel Hall?Bukit Mertajam Gospel Centre?

It is the Replica of the One Body of Christ

and not to be named after… a. A Person – I Cor. 1:12Every one…saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?b. A Practice – 1:13b, 14Were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;c. Or any other Party name. 1:13a Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

A. The Place Name of the Church. 1:2B. The People who make up the Church. 1:2them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,

called to be saints1. They are Sanctified People.

Cf. I Cor. 6:11such were some of you: but ye are

washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1. They are Sanctified People. Cf. I Cor. 6:112. They are Saints. I Cor. 1:2

3. They are the Same as those in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord…•The Local Church is a Replica of the One Universal Church.•It is an Independent Church Responsible to the Lord Himself cf. the Seven Churches.•It is Related to each other Intra-dependently. Col. 4:15, 16•It is Related to others Interdependently, e.g. I Cor. 11:16

A. The Place Name of the Church, I:2B. The People who make up the Church.

C. The Personnel in the Local Church. Cf. Phil. 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all

the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, withthe bishops and deacons:

1. The Bishops (episkopos = overseers) Acts 20:17, 28or Elders (presbuteros = elders, seniors) or Pastors (poimen = shepherds).

2. The Deacons (diakonos = servant, minister, attendant at a table)

•Functional and not Positional names to describe the responsibilities of the person. I Thes. 5:12•They have to fulfil the qualities in I Tim. 3:1-7;

3:8-13 respectively cp. Tit. 1:5-9

A. The Place Name of the Church, I:2B. The People who make up the Church.

C. The Personnel in the Local Church. Cf. Phil. 1:1

D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING

1. In Personnel Resources. I Cor. Ch. 12.

a. The Recognition of the Church Members. i) Every member is Valuable and Gifted. 12:7* No member is Dispensable.

12:14-16* No member is Indispensable. 12:20,

21, 17-19* Care more for the Feeble. 12:22-27

1. In Personnel Resources. I Cor. ch.12. a. The Recognition of the Church Members.

i) Every member is Valuable and Gifted. 12:7

ii) Every one is Variously Gifted. 12:8-10, 28-30* Gifts are from the Sovereign God. 12:11, 28* Gifts are for Service to the Good of all. 12:7* Gifts do not suggest Spirituality or Godliness.

1:7 cf. 3:3iii) Some men are Visibly Gifted.

I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:8, 11ff* Its Foundation: Apostles, Prophets. Eph.2:20* Its Extension: Evangelists.* Its Edification: Pastors-teachers.

1. In Personnel Resources. I Cor. ch.12.a. The Recognition of the Church Members

b. The Utilisation of the Church Members. i) Demonstrate active Participation. I Cor.12:27 cf. Heb.10:25 ii) Discover your Place.

I Cor. 12:28-31iii) Develop your Potential. Cf. I Tim. 4:14; II Tim.1:6

c. The Co-operation of the Church Members I Cor.12:14, 27

i) Acknowledge the Divine Headship of the Godhead.

12:4-6 cf.11:3ii) Accept the Appointed Leadership of the Elders.

12:28; Heb.13:17iii) Assent to the Functional Membership of all Others.

12:15, 21iv) Abase yourselves in Humble Stewardship in Affection for one another.

12:25, 26; 13:4-7

1. In Personnel Resources. 2. In Financial Resources

a. The Supply of Self-sufficient Funds...

i) to Maintain the Local Assembly. I Cor. 16:1, 2

ii) to Mollify those Living in Poverty. II Cor. 8:2ff; I Tim. 5:8

iii) to Minister to the Lord's "Employees". I Cor. 9:7-14

* Warriors: Missionaries, Evangelists, Preachers. 9:7a

* Planters: Ministers, church planters. 9:7b

* Shepherds: Elders, teachers. 9:7c; I Tim. 5:8-10

iv) to Meet Fellowship appeals with Liberality. I Cor. 16:3

1. In Personnel Resources. 2. In Financial Resourcesa. The Supply of Self-sufficient Funds...

b. The Source and Supply of Funds - i) Members should Commit to Give as Christ Giveth.

II Cor. 8:9 ii) Members are Commended to Give in Grace.

II Cor. 8:5, 6; 9:6, 8 iii) Members should Calculate to Give Gracefully: * according to Purpose. II Cor. 8:11; 9:7 * as the Lord Prospers. I Cor. 16:2 * in Proportion. II Cor. 8:13-15 iv) Members are Counted upon to Give Graciously, not Grudgingly. II Cor. 8:7; 9:6, 7

A. THE PLACE NAME OF THE CHURCH. B. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH.

1:2 C. THE PERSONNEL IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.

D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING

E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING1. Through Expansion

- A Growing Church. a. Growth in Maturity. Eph. 4:12a, 14-16 b. Growth in Ministry. Eph. 4:12b c. Growth in Stability. Eph. 4:13c d. Growth in Unity. Eph. 4:13d

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING1. Through Expansion - A Growing Church

2. Through Extension - A Going Church.a. With a Sense of Vision. I Cor. 9:19ff;

cf. Pro. 29:18b. With a Sense of Mission. I Cor. 9:16-18;

Matt. 28:19, 20c. With a Sense of Passion. I Cor. 9:19-22a

cf. Jn. 4:35, 36d. With a Sense of Action. I Cor. 9:22b, 23a

CONCLUSION: Responsibilities of being a full-fledged independent

assembly:-

(1) Towards God: God-Glorifying, Christ-Centred, Spirit-Stimulating and Bible-Based.(2) Towards Self: Self-supporting and Self-propagating, Self-governing(3) Towards Subversives: Receive them not neither bid them God-speed. II Cor. 11:12-15 cf. II Jn. 8-11

Organisation of the Church as Revealed in the Bible:

Conclusion: Responsibilities of being a full-fledged

independent assembly:-(1) Towards God.(2) Towards Self.(3) Towards Subversives.(4) Towards Others: reach out to..... a. Sinners with the Gospel,

"by all means save some" b. Sister-churches, in Consideration,

Consultation and Communion (Fellowship); c. Such as those who Name the Name of he Lord, Greetings and Salutations: "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.“ I Cor.1:3

AND NOW MAY

"THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD,

AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WTH YOU ALL. AMEN."

II Cor. 13:14